Garment hanger



00t- 31, 1950 c. J. wlNTl-:RGREEN 2,527,869

GARMENT HANGER Filed March 27, 1946 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct 3l, 1950 c. J. WINTERGREEN 2,527,869

GARMENT HANGER Filed Maren 27., 194e 5 sheets-sheet 2 lll'v 50 l w ,MN

52 M2 M Immun I;

.Illll nl] *zg/53 5@ 'iE/5x l HHHW" M. MMU ||MI" Ilnl -l @/f 34/ y mega Oct.'3l, 1950 c. J. wlNTERGREEN 2,527,859

GARMENT HANGER Filed March 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JM U www'. .n 1

Patented Oct. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI-CE'E GARMENT HANGER.

Charles J. wintergreem-Chcago, I-ll. Y

Application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,510 I a garment hanger having a frictionally operablev holding device or clutch for retaining an article of clothing, said device being movable :at will to a Vposition at which the garment is fully released for removal Afrom the hanger.

It isa further object of the invention to provide a garment hanger having a substantially straight bar over which a garment may be supported in pendant position, together with a swingable holding member cooperating `with the bar to grip the garment, and yielding means urging said member into gripping position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide va garment hanger having a supporting barior a garment and a swingable gripping member arranged to cooperate therewith Vfor frictionallyiholding the garment in place on the bar, said member being wholly disengageable from the garment at will, and being provided with yielding means for holding itreleasably out of engaging position to expedite the placement of a garment on the bar'or its removal therefrom.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a garment hanger having a Vportion contoured to support a coat or jacket .and having a bar Ydisposed below such vportion to support 'a' skirt or trousers, together Vwith a swingable member carried 'bytheirst portion Yfor cooperation with the bar to Tric'tionallygripthe garment thereon and spring means operative to urge the said member into gripping positionvor tovhold it releasably at inoperative position, clear of the bar, when said member has been swung to such inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of vthe-invention will :appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a lhanger embodying this invention with a garment supported on the bar thereof.

Fig. 2 is a front'elevation of the same hanger shown on a larger scale with certain details shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional'view taken substantially as indicated at line 3-3 on Figy2.v

Fig. 4 is a section taken as indicated at line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 5 5 on Fig 2.

Fig. 6l is a fragmentary rdetail section taken at the same .plane as Fig. 3, showing the swingable gripping member in garment holding position.

Fig. 7 is a Vfront elevation of a, modified form of hanger embodying this invention.

Fig. Sis a vertical sectional view taken asindicated at line 8+8 on Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of a hanger incorporating a modification of the Vinvention.

Fig. lO'is a detail sectional viewtaken as indicated at line lil-l0 on Fig. k9.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation showing .another modification of the invention.

Fig". 12 is a sectional view taken as indicated at`line l`2-l2 on Fig. 11.

Fig. '13 is an enlarged detail elevational view showing a spring hinge employed in the structure of Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional .view showing a modied 'form of the invention in respect to the relationV of the garment holding bar and the gripping member.

Fig. 15 is a similar detail section showing a slightly diierent relation between the holding bar and the gripping member.

Fig. 16 is a front elevational View of a garment hanger embodying a further modication of the invention.

Fig. 17 is a vertical section taken as indicated atline Il-Il on Fig. 16 and on a larger scale.

Fig. 18 is a front elevation or face view of a hanger embodying a further modicationof the y invention.

Fig. 1'9 is a front elevation of a hanger embodying the invention and constructed entirely of wire stock.

Various garment hangers have been designed for the purpose of holding a coatl and also supporting a pair of trousers, orholding a womans complete skirt, including the jacket and skirt, but in such structures, the trousers orthe skirt have been either supported on a simple bar, without auxiliary holding means, or the clamping means designed to secure these garments was relatively complicated and awkward to operate. The various structures shown herein, and embodying the present invention, are adapted to provide firm, frictional gripping means to hold the skirtv or trousers on a supporting bar, but in such a way that its grip is easily released by merely pushing the gripping member out of holding position; and in some of the forms of the invention the holding member is automatically held up and out of gripping position to leave the bar free and clear for adjustment of the garment thereon, or for its removal therefrom.

The hanger shown in Fig. l includes an upper portion I Il, having suitable upper contours I2, I2 to support a coat or jacket, and having a straight bar I4 disposed below the contoured portion in position to support a garment, such as the skirt shown at A, thereon. A swingable gripping member I6 is provided with pivots I8, as shown in Fig. 2, and said pivots are journaled in brackets 20, 26 attached to the contoured upper portion I0, and depending therefrom.` As thus supported, the gripping member I6 is free'to swing to either side of the common plane of the portion I and the bar I4. The bar may be connected to the depending arms 22 of the portion I0 by U-shaped clips or clevices 24, as seen in Fig. 5, and the upper ends of these clips are clamped to the portions 22, 22 by rivets 26. These rivets extend through holes 28, which are considerably larger than the rivets themselves so as to permit adjustment of the clearance between the bar I4 and the lower edge of the gripping member I6. The frictional hold of the clips 24 on the arms 22 will be suiicient to retain the bar at any position in the range oi adjustment thus aiorded, and the adjustment can be changed by tapping the bar downwardly or tapping the clips upwardly.

The gripping member I3 is held normally and yieldingly in vertical alignment with the bar I4, as shown in Fig. 3, a coil spring being provided for this purpose and being coiled about a rod 32 secured in a bail 34. The end portions of the bail 34 are twisted to provide lugs 36 which are secured atly to opposite faces of the part IB by rivets 38. One end portion 3| of the coil spring 30 extends downwardly past the horizontal portion of the bail 34, and engages one face of the swingable gripping member I6 at a short distance above the axis of its pivots I8, I8. The

other end portion 33 of the spring 30 extends downwardly past the bail 34 at the opposite side thereof, and engages the opposite face of the gripping member I6, also at a point slightly above the axis of its pivots I8, I8. The horizontal portion of bail 34 is of sufficient width to constitute a stop means for both spring loops or terminals 35, maintaining them spaced as shown in Fig. 3 with marginally sufcient over-travel so that they engage on opposite sides of the adjacent edge I1 of the secondary member I6. Each of said end upper end portion I1 of the member I6, against portions is preferably bent into a curved termi- Y nal 35, as shown in Fig. 3; and the area-s of the which the ends of the spring bear, may be shod with a U-shaped wear plate 3l, if desired. `The spring terminals 3l and 33 thus tend to hold the part I6 at mid-position and registered directly above the bar I4.

To permit a garment to be placed over the bar I4, the member I6 will be swung aside momentarily and then will be swung back by the pressure of the spring, to the position indicated in broken outline at I6a in Fig. and shown in section in Fig. 6. In these views the'garment indicated at A may be a skirt, and the thickened portion at B may represent the top or beltportion of the skirt, or the part shown at A may represent a pair of trousers, while the thickened portion at B corresponds'to the cui-fs of the trou.-

sers. Although the presence of these thicker portions of the garments is not relied upon primarily for holding them on the hanger, it is evident that if the majority of the weight of the garment A depends from one side of the bar I4, the garment may tend to slip to a position at which the thicker portion B is arrested by the edge of the gripping member I6, as shown in Fig. 6. The principal holding action, however, is the friction clutch effect; the pressure of the spring 30 supplies initial contact between the garment and the lower edge of the gripping member I 6, and the friction between the garment and this edge of the member I6 causes the grip to be tightened by the weight of the garment itself as it tends to draw the free end portion B over the bar I4. Thus the greater the weight, the more firmly it will be gripped by the member I6, and, if desired, several skirts, or, at least, two or three pairs of trousers may be thus supported on a single hanger bar vI4 and gripped thereon by the member I 6.l Preferably, the lower edge of the member I6 is formed with a sinuous outline, as shown at 40, to concentrate the gripping action at a plurality of points across the width of the goods supported on the bar I4; incidentally, the recess 42, thus provided at the middle of the width of the member I6, will accommodate the side seams of trousers so as to avoid concentration of the entire gripping force on these seams, thus leaving the adjacent areas improperly supported by the hanger.

Since the end portions 3l and33 of the spring 30 engage the member I6 only above its pivot axis, said member can be swung to a substantially horizontal position, as indicated in broken outline at I6b in Fig. 3, until its upper end por-v tion I 'l swings clear of one end of the spring and is then stopped against its rounded portion 35 so that the gripping member I6 will be thus yieldingly retained in its up-swung position, leaving the bar I4 clear for the placement of a garment thereon or for its removal therefrom. The circular curve of the spring terminal 35 is such that a light pressure upon the horizontally projecting member I6 will cam its short end portion II past the rounded spring terminal 35 and permit the member to swing back to its pendant and operative position.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a simplified form of the invention in which the contoured upper portion 50 is provided with clips 52 which support a bar 54, and in which the gripping member 56 is attached to the contoured upper member 56 by exible and resilient straps 58 of spring metal or like material. |The gripping member 56 thus tends to assume a position in which it is registered directly above the bar 54, as seen in Fig. 8, but it may be swung out of this position to permit placing a garment on the bar 54. Thereupon, the spring members 58 Will urge the gripping bar 56 toward the garment and into gripping relation therewith.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate arconstruction quite similar to that of Figs. 1 to 6. The contoured member 60 supports a gripping member 66 by means of pivots 68, but instead of employing a coil spring for holding the member 66 at its mid-position or in a raised position, this structure is provided with a bent spring of nat strip stock. The part 6I) is formed with a clearance opening 62 above the upper end portion 64 of the swinging gripping member 66, and the middle of the spring member is secured in said recess 62 by a screw 10. From this point the strip extends upwardly along both faces of the part 60 and Ithen bends .away from said faces at 12,

12, .and downwardly to form curved terminal portions :74, 14 which engage opposite faces of the .upper end 64 of the gripping member. When said member is swung about its pivots 06, 68 to the lposition shown in dotted outline at 66a in Fig. 10, the end portion 64 kwill force one of the rounded terminals 14 outwardly, and will then snap under Said terminal so that the gripping member is retainedyieldingly in upraised position.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show a further modication in which the contoured upper member 80 .supports the swingable gripping member 86 by means of spring hinges, one of which is shown at 82 in the enlarged view of Fig. 13. Both hinges are lmounted on -the "same face of the part 80 and are attached to the same face of the swingable gripping member 86. As shown in Fig. 11, the hinges automatically stop the member 86 with its lower edge registered directly yabove the bar 84, and the springs of the hinges permit swinging the member 86 Ainone direction, away from this position, `to afford clearance for placing a garment on the bar. -If desired, the bar 84 may be so adjusted, or the member 86 may be so dimensioned, that it will collide with the bar under the pressure of the spring hinges, as indicated at 86a in Fig. 14. As an alternative of this arrangement, the upper edge of the bar may be rabbeted, as shown at 84D, and the lower edge of the gripping member may be correspondingly rabbeted, as shown at 86b in Fig. 15, so that although the parts are vertically registered in the closed position of the gripping member, the latter will not swing past the bar.

It will be recognized that with the structures shown in Figs. 7 and 11 the gripping member will not be automatically supported in open position but it can be easily held in open position while the garment is placed on the bar. Thev spring means which returns the gripping member to gripping position can be relatively light, since the primary factor in the holding action is the frictional drag of the garment againstthe lower edge of the gripping member, tending always to pull it more tightly into gripping position.

, holding the gripping member |06 in registration Fig. 16 shows a construction in which a tension spring s employed to control the gripping member. The contoured upper portion 90 of the hanger supports the gripping member 96 by means of pivots 98, engaged in the brackets 92. A relatively deep, upwardlyextending recess 9| in the part 90 accommodates a coil tension spring 93 connected to a lug 95 which extends from the upper portion of the gripping member 96 and slightly above the axis of its pivots 98. The upper end of the spring is anchored by a cross-pin 91 in the head portion of the part 90. The tension of the spring 93 thus operates to hold the gripping member 96 normally in registration with the bar 94 of the hanger while permitting it to be swung to either side for placement of a garment on the bar 94, or removal of a garment therefrom.

In the structure shown in Fig. 18 the upper contoured portion |00 of the hanger is unitary with the straight bar portion |04, with an open area between these parts in which the swinging gripping member |06 is accommodated. A construction of this character might be made of plastic material, or might be formed of light sheet metal, or possibly of cast aluminum. The member |00 includes hinge lugs I0? by which it is supwith the bar portion |04.

As shown in Fig. 19, the main frame |20 of the hanger is made of heavy wire stock and includes the upper portion, which supports a coat or jacket, and the lower bar |24 to carry a skirt or a pair of trousers. Said upper portion is connected to the hook |22 .by horizontal portions |23 disposed in alignment, and the gripping member |26 which is also formed of heavy bent wire stock has its upper ends coiled about the parts |23 at |25, |25 to provide pivotal support for said gripping member. A double coiled spring, similar to that shown in Fig. 18, has its middle hairpin portion |30' anchored in the twisted connections of the ends of the wire which form the parts |20 and |24, Whilethe spring coils |32 and |34 are wrapped around the horizontal parts |23 of the hanger. The terminals |33 and |35 bear against crank arms |28, |28 of the gripping member |26, and are stressed in opposite directions so as to normally hold said member in the plane of the main frame |20, |24. @In operation, this structure will be quite similar to that of Figs. 7, 11, ll-and 18.

While I have shown and described herein several alternative structures embodying my invention and illustrative thereof, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby,` but includes all modications, variations and equivalents of the features disclosed herein which may come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger comprising an 'upper portion shaped to support a coat, a bar portion spaced below said upper portion, a gripping member pivotally suspended from said upper portion in the space above said bar with its lower edge positioned to cooperate with said bar for gripping a garment thereon, la part of said gripping member projecting above the aXis of its pivotal support, and spring means mounted on the upper portion of the hanger engaging said :projecting part for yieldingly urging said member toward gripping position.

2. In a garment hanger as dened in claim l, said projecting part of the gripping member being dimensioned to deflect said spring means and to swing past the same when the member is swung away from the bar through a predetermined angle, said spring means then engaging the projection as a detent toA hold the gripping member swung away from the bar.

3. In a garment hanger as defined in claim l, said spring means having a cam portion which engages the projecting part of the gripping member and which is deiiected thereby, allowing said projection to slipY past it when the gripping member is swung away `from the bar through a predetermined angle, said cam portion then reengaging the projection to uphold the gripping member but being adapted to yield to permit return of the member toward the bar.`

4. A garment hanger comprising an upper portion shaped to conform with the profile of a coat garment, a bar connected-at its ends to said upper portion and in spaced relationship thereto, a gripping member :pivotally carried by said upper portion for swinging through said space and having a lower edge adapted to cooperate with an upper edge of said bar member for grippingA an overhung garment therebetween, and a single spring member mounted in said upper portion for engaging said gripping member, said spring member being so disposed and tensioned as to holdsaid gripping member sothat the lower edge of said gripping member registers directly over said bar member and so as to yield springably when said gripping member is swung through a predetermined angle in either direction from said registered position.

5. A garment hanger comprising an upper portion shaped to conform with the prole of a coat garment, a bar connected at its ends to said upper portion and in spaced relationship thereto, a gripping member pivotally carried by said upper portion for swinging through said space and having a lower edge adapted to cooperate With an upper edge of said bar member for gripping an overhung garment therebetween, and a single coil spring mounted on said opper portion of said hanger having its axial center parallel to the pivot axis of said gripping member, the ends of said spring being positioned to engage the opposite surfaces of said gripping member, and stop means limiting movement of each end of said coil spring in one direction while :permitting it to be moved with said gripping member in an opposite direction.

CHARLES J. WINTERGREEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

